MANILA – Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting peace and development in the Bangsamoro region through different programs and projects funded by the Japanese government and currently implemented in different parts of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao (BARMM).
Ambassador Endo made the statement during his visit to the region from June 18 to June 20, 2024, as he met officials of BARMM and visited various project sites funded by the Japanese government.
During the visit, Endo made a courtesy call on Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Pangalian M. Balindon.
He was also welcomed by Deputy Speaker Omar Yasser Sema, Floor Leader Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, and Deputy Floor Leader Mary Ann M. Arnado, the Japanese Embassy stated in a release.
“During the meeting, Ambassador Endo and the Parliament officials exchanged views on the Parliament’s efforts to establish democracy in the BARMM region under its Parliamentary Cabinet system, as well as the current status of the deliberations on the remaining priority codes,” the Japanese Embassy said.
Japan’s top envoy also paid a courtesy visit to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and extended his congratulations for the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB).
“During the meeting, Ambassador ENDO conveyed Japan’s unwavering commitment to supporting peace and development in the Bangsamoro region. Likewise, Chief Minister Ebrahim expressed his appreciation for Japan’s various support for the peace process over the last two decades, and prospects for further collaboration,” the embassy said.
Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in BARMM
During the visit, Ambassador Endo attended the handover ceremony for the Project Project on Enhancing Food Security and Livelihood in Bangsamoro under the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) in Purok Molave, Poblacion 1, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.
According to the Japanese Embassy, the handover ceremony was also attended by Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran and many other relevant stakeholders.
The project worth USD 2.3 million and implemented by the UNDP, aims to “ensure food security to sustain peacebuilding and recovery in the Bangsamoro region.”
In a statement, the embassy said that approximately 3,150 households in 16 communities received food packs during the visit, while more than 30 communities in and around BARMM are set to benefit from the livelihood development support, particularly from the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
The project also provided a Solar Powered Ice Block Making Machine to the municipal local government of Parang to support fishermen and merchants to overcome logistical and quality control challenges in preserving the freshness of their catch due to a lack of ice and cold storage facilities.
“This project component aims to increase profit and boost inclusive economic development within the municipality and the surrounding areas,” the embassy mentioned.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Endo also made a site visit to the project “Enhancing and Sustaining Peace and Security Mechanisms in Mindanao, Philippines”, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB).
“The project supports the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST), a peace-keeping force composed of members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” the embassy said.
The JPST was established with the mission to maintain peace and order in Mindanao during the transitional period, the embassy continues.
Ambassador ENDO visited the JPST Ganasi Station in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte after receiving a briefing on JPSTs from the Co-Chair of the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) Francisco Ariel Felicidario III.
According to the Japanese Embassy, Ganasi Station was one of the ten stations supported by the Government of Japan under the 2019 project “Assistance for the Normalization Process of the Decommissioning of MILF Combatants and for Security Enforcement in the Peace Process” with the UNDP. However, Ganasi Station has sustained damage from natural disasters in recent years.
Under the Project, the IOM will rehabilitate at least 4 JPST stations, including Ganasi Station, as well as provide livelihood support to the nearby communities.
“The Project will also develop refresher training modules for JPST members and training of trainers (ToT), as well as provide vehicles, motorcycles, and communications/logistics tools for JPSTs to ensure the peace and security in the communities, where a total of 24 JPSTs are deployed,” the Japanese Embassy reveals.
